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A structural and thematic comparison of Harper Lee's novels To Kill a Mockingbird and Go Set a Watchman
Friedlová, Michaela ; Ženíšek, Jakub (advisor) ; Topolovská, Tereza (referee)
The aim of this diploma thesis is to analyse and compare Harper Lee's canonical coming-of- age novel To Kill a Mockingbird to its original forerunner, the novel Go Set a Watchman, which was, however, published several years later. The theoretical part provides a brief synopsis of each of the novels and outlines Lee's life, as well as the main aspects of the historical and social background relevant to the stories, namely the Great Depression, Jim Crow laws, and the Scottsboro Trial. The practical part then investigates and juxtaposes the two novels from thematic and structural perspectives, and considers them specifically through the psychological, sociological, and stylistic prisms. Besides, it compares the factual similarities and differences in storylines and characters, who are often based on Lee's real-life acquaintances. The overall comparison shows how To Kill a Mockingbird, a gently tuned novel of children growing up yet packed with diverse topics, evolved from a rather intricate novel, Go Set a Watchman, dealing with a difficult task of one's individuation and realising that one's father is only a human. To Kill a Mockingbird is set in the 1930s and takes place over several years, while the story of Go Set a Watchman is situated some twenty years later, and its plot culminates in the...
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A structural and thematic comparison of Harper Lee's novels To Kill a Mockingbird and Go Set a Watchman
Friedlová, Michaela ; Ženíšek, Jakub (advisor) ; Topolovská, Tereza (referee)
The aim of this diploma thesis is to analyse and compare Harper Lee's canonical coming-of- age novel To Kill a Mockingbird to its original forerunner, the novel Go Set a Watchman, which was, however, published several years later. The theoretical part provides a brief synopsis of each of the novels and outlines Lee's life, as well as the main aspects of the historical and social background relevant to the stories, namely the Great Depression, Jim Crow laws, and the Scottsboro Trial. The practical part then investigates and juxtaposes the two novels from thematic and structural perspectives, and considers them specifically through the psychological, sociological, and stylistic prisms. Besides, it compares the factual similarities and differences in storylines and characters, who are often based on Lee's real-life acquaintances. The overall comparison shows how To Kill a Mockingbird, a gently tuned novel of children growing up yet packed with diverse topics, evolved from a rather intricate novel, Go Set a Watchman, dealing with a difficult task of one's individuation and realising that one's father is only a human. To Kill a Mockingbird is set in the 1930s and takes place over several years, while the story of Go Set a Watchman is situated some twenty years later, and its plot culminates in the...
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William Faulkner as a Short Story Writer of the American South
ŠVOJGROVÁ, Tereza
In the first part, the diploma thesis will deal with the characteristics of the literature of the American South and will provide an overview of its main themes (history of the region, the importance of the family, life in a small community, man's conflict with religion, the sense of justice, the sense of humor and others). In the overview of American Southern authors, it will try to characterize typical features of southern prose, and set borders of the region. The main task of the thesis will be the analysis of William Faulkner's short stories: A Rose for Emily, Red Leaves, Dry September, That Evening Sun, Mountain Victory and Barn Burning. Based on the short story analysis, it will focus on Faulkner's relation to the American South. Part of the thesis will be a chapter dedicated to the grotesque genre and to the literary category of American Gothic.
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Flannery O'Connor as satirical priest
Petrušová, Gabriela ; Wallace, Clare (advisor) ; Ulmanová, Hana (referee)
49 Summary Although her literary career was short, Flannery O'Connor made a great impression with her peculiar characters which are probably the most unsympathetic ones in the world of fiction. These self-indulged, ignorant individuals remain in our minds long after we have finished our reading. This fact perhaps results from the notion that Flannery O'Connor herself did not have sympathy for them either. Despite her deeply religious point of view, her characters are not treated in the light of assumed Christian humanism. On the contrary, at the end they are facing violent deaths, they are robbed of their artificial limbs and every time when it is possible they are in the centre of her scornful satirical and acid humor. This thesis aims to discuss the specific role of the last mentioned phenomenon and that is O'Connor's acid and satirical humor which interwoven with religious concerns plays a specific role in her fiction. The primary aim of the first chapter is the introduction of the tradition of Southern literature and contextualization of Flannery O'Connor unique place within the Southern literary canon. The first chapter, in addition, discusses the role, history and use of humor in Southern literature. Chapter two then shifts the focus on the special quality of O'Connor's humor in particular; moreover...
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